The Chicago Sky, a professional women's basketball team based in Chicago, compete in the WNBA's Eastern Conference. Founded in 2006, the team has experienced two periods of success. From 2013 to 2016, they made four playoff appearances, including the 2014 WNBA Finals. From 2019 to 2022, they achieved further success, culminating in their first WNBA championship in 2021.
February 2005: Chicago Awarded WNBA Franchise
NBA commissioner David Stern announced that Chicago had been awarded a new WNBA franchise, initially named "WNBA Chicago".
May 27, 2005: Dave Cowens Becomes First Head Coach
Former NBA player and coach Dave Cowens was appointed as the first head coach and general manager of the newly formed Chicago WNBA team.
September 20, 2005: Team Name and Logo Unveiled
The team's official name, "Chicago Sky," and logo were revealed at an event held at the Adler Planetarium. Team colors were explained to represent a beautiful day in Chicago, with blue for the sky and yellow for sunlight, highlighting the city's skyline.
November 2005: Expansion Draft
The Chicago Sky participated in an expansion draft to build its roster, selecting players such as Brooke Wyckoff, Bernadette Ngoyisa, Elaine Powell, and Stacey Dales from other WNBA teams.
February 28, 2006: Minority Shareholders Announced
The team announced that singer Michelle Williams and Mathew Knowles, the father of Beyoncé Knowles, were minority shareholders in the Chicago Sky.
2006: Franchise Founded
The Chicago Sky franchise was founded and began competing in the WNBA's Eastern Conference.
2007: Armintie Price Wins Rookie of the Year
Armintie Price, drafted by the Chicago Sky with the third overall pick, won the WNBA Rookie of the Year award, marking a positive step for the developing team.
March 12, 2008: Overton Resigns; Steven Key Takes Over
Bo Overton resigned from his position, and assistant coach Steven Key was appointed as the Chicago Sky's new head coach and general manager.
2008: Sylvia Fowles Drafted, Olympic Gold
The Chicago Sky drafted Sylvia Fowles with the second overall pick. Fowles also played for the U.S. women's basketball team at the 2008 Summer Olympics, winning a gold medal.
2009: Kristi Toliver Drafted
The Chicago Sky drafted point guard Kristi Toliver, fresh off an NCAA championship win with the University of Maryland, with the third overall pick.
October 28, 2010: Pokey Chatman Appointed Coach
Former LSU head coach Pokey Chatman was named the new head coach of the Chicago Sky, replacing Steven Key.
2011: Sylvia Fowles' Consistent Performance
Sylvia Fowles continued to be a key player for the Chicago Sky, averaging a double-double with 20 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.
May 14, 2012: Peddy and Carter Waived
The Chicago Sky waived Shey Peddy and Sydney Carter, who had been drafted in 2012.
2013: First Period of Success Begins
The Chicago Sky entered a period of success, making playoff appearances for the next few years.
2013: Elena Delle Donne Drafted, Rookie of the Year
The Chicago Sky selected Elena Delle Donne with the second overall pick, who went on to lead All-Star voting, average 18.1 points per game, and win the WNBA Rookie of the Year award. The team achieved a 24-10 record and secured first place in the Eastern Conference.
2014: Chicago Sky's First WNBA Finals Appearance
Despite a mediocre 15-19 regular season record, the Chicago Sky qualified for the playoffs as the 4th seed in the Eastern Conference. Guard Allie Quigley was named Sixth Woman of the Year. After winning two best-of-three series in the conference semifinals and finals, they reached the WNBA Finals for the first time. They were swept by the Phoenix Mercury in the best-of-five finals series.
2014: WNBA Finals Appearance
The Chicago Sky reached the WNBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.
2016: End of First Period of Success
The Chicago Sky's first period of consistent playoff appearances ended.
2016: League Standing from 2016 to present
This marks the beginning of the period for which league standings are provided.
2016: Chicago Sky's Playoff Run Under New Format
Under the WNBA's new playoff format, where teams were seeded regardless of conference, the Chicago Sky finished 4th in the league and returned to the playoffs. They lost 3-1 in the semifinals to the Los Angeles Sparks.
2017: Elena Delle Donne Traded to Washington Mystics
In a major trade, the Chicago Sky traded Elena Delle Donne to the Washington Mystics. In return, they received Kahleah Copper, Stefanie Dolson, and the Mystics' second overall pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft. The Sky finished the season with a 12-22 record, missing the playoffs for the first time in five seasons.
November 2018: James Wade Takes Helm as Head Coach and General Manager
The Chicago Sky hired James Wade as the team's new head coach and general manager.
2019: Chicago Sky's Turnaround Season
The Chicago Sky experienced a turnaround season, finishing with a 20-14 record and entering the playoffs as the fifth seed. James Wade was awarded the WNBA Coach of the Year for the regular season, and Courtney Vandersloot set a new assists-per-game record for the second consecutive season. Vandersloot, Allie Quigley, and Diamond DeShields were named All-Stars, with DeShields winning the All-Star Game Skills Challenge. Although they won their first-round playoff game against the Phoenix Mercury, they lost to the Las Vegas Aces in the next round due to a buzzer-beater in the final seconds.
2019: Second Period of Success Begins
The Chicago Sky embarked on a second period of success, which would ultimately result in a championship.
2020: Chicago Sky in the WNBA Bubble
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 WNBA season was shortened and held in a bubble in Bradenton, Florida. The Chicago Sky, despite a promising start, faced challenges with injuries, ending with a 12-10 record as the sixth seed. They lost their first-round single-elimination game to the Phoenix Mercury.
February 1, 2021: Candace Parker Joins Chicago Sky
The Chicago Sky announced the signing of free agent Candace Parker, a two-time WNBA MVP and WNBA Finals MVP. Parker, originally from Naperville, Illinois, decided to return to her hometown team after playing her first 12 seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks.
October 17, 2021: Chicago Sky Wins First WNBA Championship
The Chicago Sky secured their first WNBA Championship, defeating the Phoenix Mercury 3-1 in the 2021 WNBA Finals. Kahleah Copper was named Finals MVP. As the sixth seed, they became the lowest-seeded team and the first team with a non-winning record to win the WNBA championship under the new playoff format.
October 19, 2021: Chicago Sky Celebrates Championship with Parade and Rally
A parade and rally were held to celebrate the Chicago Sky's first WNBA championship victory.
2021: First WNBA Championship
The Chicago Sky won their first WNBA championship, marking a historic moment for the franchise.
2022: End of Second Period of Success
The Chicago Sky's second period of success concluded.
2023: Chicago Sky's Continued Success and Playoff Run
The Chicago Sky continued their success, finishing with a 26-10 record and earning the second seed. They participated in the WNBA Commissioner's Cup but lost to the Las Vegas Aces. In the playoffs, they defeated the New York Liberty in the first round but lost to the Connecticut Sun in the semifinals.
2023: Chicago Sky's Period of Change and Playoff Appearance
The Chicago Sky underwent a period of significant change with many longtime players departing in free agency, including Courtney Vandersloot, Allie Quigley, Azurá Stevens, and Candace Parker. The team's record fluctuated around .500 for most of the season. Head Coach James Wade resigned to take an assistant coaching position with the NBA's Toronto Raptors. Assistant Coach Emre Vatansever took over as interim head coach for the remainder of the season. The Sky finished as the eighth seed with an 18-22 record and lost in the first round of the playoffs to the eventual champion Las Vegas Aces.